- Following 1.3K
- Followers 117.8K
- Engagement 0.84%
- Avg likes 927
- Avg comments 60
About Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer
Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer (@adventureinstead) is a Photographer creator on Instagram, also filed under Travel and Travel Influencers. The account has 117,830 followers and 1,116 published posts. Recent posts average 927 likes and 60 comments, an engagement rate of 0.84%.
An audience of 117.8K puts Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer in the mid-tier, between 100,000 and 1 million followers. Set against 1,276 accounts followed, the audience works out to about 92 followers per account Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer follows. Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer uses an Instagram professional account. Flinque files Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer under 3 categories, led by Photographer and followed by Travel and Travel Influencers.
The Instagram bio for Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer runs to 15 words across 3 lines. Emoji sit alongside the words. The latest activity Flinque has on record for Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer dates from April 2025.
Story Highlights
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1,116 Posts
Of the 10 most recent posts shown for Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer, 7 are carousels and 3 are videos. That mix leans toward carousels. Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer has built a substantial archive of 1,116 posts. Against the audience, that is roughly 106 followers for each post published. Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer also keeps 21 story highlights on the profile. All 10 carry captions, averaging 273 words each. The captions are written mainly in English. Words that recur across them include itâs, colorado, been, first and getting. The captions tag #adventurebride, #elopementinspo, #elopementphotographer, #destinationwedding and #elopementlocation.
Genuinely, I think about that Mary Oliver quote from The Summer Day all the time in terms of elopements. I even use it on the first page of my elopement proposals. The first words couples read are:
âTell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?â
Because when you think about your wedding day with that in mind, doesnât everything else fall into perspective?
Isnât life too damn short to not get married in front of a waterfall like you want, or stand in a field of flowers to say your vows, or cry happy tears in front of the Northern Lights on your wedding day?
F*ck the ballroom life. ELOPE đŞ
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#destinationwedding
#adventurebride
#elopementlocation
#travelelopement
#elopementinspo
Weâre in the dead of winter here in Colorado, and even though the days are *finally* getting longer again bit by bit, Iâm needing every reminder that summer will return.
Sam & Stephenâs day shows off so much of whatâs special about Colorado in July. Golden light, green valleys, roaring waterfalls, andâmy favoriteâTONS of wildflowers!
Thereâs something really special about the Earth in southwest Colorado. Iâve always felt drawn to this part of the state, and every time I go back, Iâm reminded of why.
Alp-like peaks, incredible ridges, GREAT 4X4 roads, tons of alpine lakes, hot springs everywhere, wildflowers & aspens, a national parkâŚ
In every single season, thereâs genuinely no place like it.
If youâre looking for an elopement spot with..
A ton of activities
Lots of scenery options
A totally unique feelings
Great wildlife spotting
World-class accommodations
⌠Southwest Colorado may be the perfect place for you!
In my opinion, the best months to elope in this corner of the state are July and September.
Both of these months are pretty dry and sunny, so you should have good weather, and you get the wildflowers & aspens, respectively.
Julyâs temperatures are usually in the high 70âs and September is usually in the high 60âs, so you donât get highs that are too hot or too chilly in these months.
Iâve been going back to my roots and photographing more elopements out here over the last year, and itâs been so refreshing. I love the landscape so much and canât show it to enough couples!
My spots for this area get snapped up quickly and Iâm nearly fully booked, so be sure to reach out to me ASAP if youâre looking at a summer elopement for this year!
Iâd be more than happy to help you build the perfect elopement day in one of my favorite spots in the entire world.
xx Maddie Mae
Back in 2022, I wrote a blog post compiling advice on how to be an LGBTQ+ inclusive photographer from 21 photographers in the community, and their main tips wereâŚ
1. Use inclusive (not gendered) language in all areas of your business
2. Step away from gendered posing conventions
3. Donât assume any couple is âstraightââLGBTQ+ folks donât have one look
4. Include LGBTQ+ relationships in your portfolio
5. Recognize not all LGBTQ+ people are part of a couple
6. Perform the emotional labor of evaluating vendors, destinations, venues, etc. for safety
7. Before you post to any platforms, consider confirming with your couples that you can publicly post their photos
8. Value LGBTQ+ beyond checking a box on your portfolio and listen to their feedback
If you want the full blog, just comment LOVEISLOVE and Iâll send it your way! Itâs a great read for anyone looking to make sure theyâre starting 2026 off on a supportive and affirming note for *all* couples. Itâs more important now than ever before.
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#lgbtqweddings
#loveislove
#lgbtqelopements
#elopementphotographer
#adventurebrides
Iâm really looking forward to a ton of the travel I have planned this year. One of my first stops is going to be in New York Cityâa place I really love, despite how often I usually try to avoid big cities. This is for something super exciting, so stay tuned!
After that youâll be able to find me at home in Colorado, Europe, and Africa on a mix of personal and professional adventures.
My spots this year are pretty much gone, so if you have an idea for an elopement, donât hesitate to reach out! Iâd love to get you scheduled for this year or next year!
Iâm especially excited to be stopping through the Mediterranean and Morocco in April. Iâm actually stopping in through Wisconsin for a weekend for a friendâs wedding, so Iâm looking forward to getting to warm up in the Aegean afterward.
Iâm also *really* stoked about spending another summer photographing elopements right here in Colorado! I love my home state dearly, and getting to spend last year reconnecting with the landscapes that made me fall in love with photography has been such a privilege.
And if where you want to elope isnât on here, you should still reach out to me! As long as Iâm free, I can frequently make something work!
Canât wait for you to see what I have planned this year!
Itâs been 2 months since this night (you know, client photos gotta come first!) but Iâm nowhere near over this experience.
2025 man⌠you were rough in all kinds of ways. Maybe one day Iâll be able to share everything that happened to me last year, but this night⌠this reminded me that even the worst years in our live that we wish would endâthereâs still magic and once-in-a-lifetime experiences to be found.
I literally just had to look⌠UP.
Itâll take me a while to continue processing 2025.
I donât have a pretty, shiny âwrap upâ post with fun stats. Even though yes, I still traveled to amazing places and worked with amazing people⌠trying to wrap up a year that was also filled with extreme trauma and the deepest grief Iâve ever felt like that, just doesnât feel right.
I spent the final days of 2025 processing and grieving and just letting myself feel it all, and I woke up January 1st at peace.
2026 feels like a blank canvasâready for new stories to be written, a new version of me to emerge.
A version of me that know knows in my bonesâŚ
- How short life is
- Just âbeing okayâ is the best feeling in the world
- How quickly time with those you love passes
This night was one Iâll never forget, and even though I took these photos myself, it still doesnât feel real.
This is hands down the most treasured family photo now and a permanent reminder that magical experiences donât have to be a world away⌠even your own backyard you see every day can be the most incredible place youâve ever been.
Wishing you all so much peace, love, and happiness in 2026 â¨
âThe morning arrives
begin again
open your eyes, realize,
the dream never ceases
it weaves on and on
then it breaks free
a wavering sigh
A simple reminder
that we are just here
for a moment
and then we flyâ
- Yaima
Itâs such a crazy honor to be the overall runner-up for this yearâs IWPOTY awards. Iâm also so grateful to have 4 images placed as finalists (meaning top 15 in their category)âplus Robin & Dillonâs image also *won* the âEngagement / Non-Weddingâ category!
This job is truly the privilege of a lifetime and getting to travel the world creating experiences like these and getting to document themâitâs the dream job I never knew existed and it still doesnât feel real most days.
Having Robin & Dillonâs epic 3-day road trip through Utah highlighted feels like the perfect example of what this is all about. Itâs about 2 people who love each other adventuring out into the incredible landscapes of the world and exploring together.
(Dare I say it might be about adventuring instead? đ)
And Robin & Dillon are SUCH a fun coupleâwe truly laughed our away across the entire state of Utah together. I loved getting to hang out with these two and document all of their engagement celebrations. It was such a fun few days and an experience I would repeat in a heartbeat.
Thank you so much to all the folks over at. I am so grateful for you all and all of your hard work running this competition every year.
I canât wait to see what 2026 will hold. Cheers! đĽ
Even though it was March when they elopedâa relatively cooler month for the islandsâthat still meant gorgeous 80 degree days and warm seas (AKA, exactly what I start craving this time of year!)
If thereâs one piece of advice I could stress to folks looking to elope in warm or tropical climates, itâs that you should definitely consider the shoulder seasons.
Shoulder seasons usually mean mild temps, cheaper rates on hotels and flights, and, best of all, less tourists! You can sometimes have usually packed spots all to yourself.
Erica & Charlie took advantage of the reduced crowds to spend 2 days exploring ALL of Kauai. First from the ground, then from the air.
The first day was their ceremony day, which started with a first look on a pier. They ate lunch at a local market and then headed out to one of my favorite ridge trails on the island.
But their sunset beach ceremony was definitely the biggest moment of the day. They exchanged vows & rings, soaked in the sunset, and had their first dance.
After the sunset had mostly faded they headed off to their dinner reservations! Theyâd been wanting to try this restaurant and brought letters & cards from loved ones to read while they were there.
Day 2 was all about adventure. They took off in a helicopter to get a full tour of Kauai, including Waimea Canyon, the NÄ Pali Coast, and tons of insane waterfalls.
They stopped for a fresh sushi lunch from a food truck they were excited about (these two were huge foodies) and then set out to explore Waimea on foot!
Erica & Charlie ended their day with yet *another* epic beach sunset and some time to relax and take it all in.
I truly think part of what made their elopement so successful was their sense of adventure. The entire time they were just down for the ride and happy to be doing it together.
xx Maddie Mae
Iâve been dreaming of doing underwater photography for *years* but when your art is your business, itâs really easy to put things off. Especially when your dreams donât seem practical (I live in a land-locked state) or if thereâs not an imminent âneedâ to learn something⌠itâs been in my âsomedayâ pile for so long.
Becoming a âbeginnerâ again required a lot of vulnerability and getting back into a headspace of being ready to learn, and honestly⌠this is the best thing Iâve done for myself and for my work in a long, long time.
During my 3-day 1:1 workshop with at at her custom pool in Florida and then shooting at the Florida springs, I felt that spark of doing something new with my camera that I remember from when I was 16 and took my first portrait of a person.
I was back to absolutely SQUEALING with joy behind my camera and internally bursting with excitement about what I was getting to do, and just eagerly being a âlearnerâ again.
(and it helps that I absolutely freaking love Kimber & her husband Will).
So this is my message to any creatives in the audience, whether youâre a photographer, artist, writer, or anything else:
Stop labeling the creative things youâre craving of doing as âimpracticalââjust do them.
Joy has value in itself. Learning has value in itself.
Your spark is worth seeing.
Go after those âthatâs not practicalâ dreams.
Be vulnerable enough to be a beginner again and create some imperfect stuff thatâs just for the joy of creating and learning.
Especially if youâre feeling stagnant⌠go create the most impractical random sh*t you canâall it has to do is bring YOU joy.
ALSO WHO IS GOING TO LET ME TAKE THEM UNDERWATER FOR THEIR ELOPEMENT? đââď¸
xx Maddie Mae
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#underwaterphotography
#underwatershots
#posinginspiration
#photographerposingtips
#elopementphotographer
Brigette and Calvin made the BEST decision deciding to spend a good portion of their day floating in this Colorado hot springâboth outside and in! And seriously, the surrounding natural landscape adds SO MUCH to the experience!
It was such a fun and unique experience Iâd recommend to anyone!
Will you be at Dunton Hot Springs anytime soon?
xx Maddie Mae
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#hotsprings
#outdoorwedding
#adventurebride
#elopementinspo
#weddingday
It's a private 4x4.
I talk to eloping couples all the time that love the idea of the great outdoors, but decidedly do not love the idea of hiking. In fact, you don't even have to have any experience off-roading or feel comfortable driving a 4x4.
So many couples don't know that hiring a 4x4 driver is even an option, but I'm here to tell you that not only is it, but it's also an affordable and fun way to get all of the views of a mountain elopement with none of the stress.
You can just sit back, soak in all the views with your partner, and tell the driver when you see something and want to pull off.
It's. That. Easy.
And as an added bonus, these drivers know the trails and the area like the back of their hands, so you're also getting a local guide!
All for less than the cost of a night at a nice hotel.
SW Colorado is UNBEATABLE for these experiences! It has the largest and craziest network of 4x4 roads in the country. They're all leftover mining paths from the gold rush, meaning they go up and down all through the mountains. Zero hiking necessary.
Fun factâfor Katie & Logan's elopement, all of these photos were taken less than a quarter mile from a Jeep.
They were able to see the sights of Colorado and bask in their wildflower ceremony without hiking, trying to figure out 4x4 roads by themselves, or compromising on everything that they wanted.
And even though you're letting someone else take the keys, they're not taking control of your day! You're still in charge of all stops and requests. It just frees you up so much to relax and actually enjoy the experience instead of forcing yourself to do something you aren't super comfortable with.
Honestly, unless you and your partner just genuinely LOVE driving 4x4's and that sounds like a special and meaningful activity...hire someone!
You can get all of the views you want, and you can do it in a way that feels good and memorable to you. Relaxing, basking in the joy of your day, and taking in the world around you.
xx Maddie Mae
Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer's engagement
Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer's engagement rate on Instagram is 0.84%, under 1%, fewer than 1 like or comment per 100 followers. On a typical post that comes to about 1 like or comment for every 119 followers. An average post collects 927 likes and 60 comments, close to 15 likes for each comment.
Engagement rate
0.84%
- Avg likes
- 927
- Avg comments
- 60
- Interactions : followers
- 1 : 119
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Who is Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer?
Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer (@adventureinstead) is a Photographer creator on Instagram, also filed under Travel and Travel Influencers. Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer uses an Instagram professional account. The Instagram bio for Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer runs to 15 words across 3 lines.
How many followers does Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer have?
Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer has 117,830 followers on Instagram (117.8K). Set against 1,276 accounts followed, the audience works out to about 92 followers per account Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer follows. Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer has built a substantial archive of 1,116 posts.
What is Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer's engagement rate?
Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer's engagement rate on Instagram is 0.84%, under 1%, fewer than 1 like or comment per 100 followers. On a typical post that comes to about 1 like or comment for every 119 followers. An average post collects 927 likes and 60 comments, close to 15 likes for each comment.
What does Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer post about on Instagram?
Flinque files Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer under 3 categories, led by Photographer and followed by Travel and Travel Influencers. Of the 10 most recent posts shown for Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer, 7 are carousels and 3 are videos. The 10 recent Instagram captions Flinque holds for Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer repeatedly use the words itâs, colorado, been, first and getting. Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer's captions carry hashtags such as #adventurebride, #elopementinspo and #elopementphotographer. Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer writes those captions mainly in English. Maddie Mae // Destination Elopement Photographer keeps 21 story highlights, which open with a free Flinque account.
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